On today’s episode of The “Center” the staff of the Franciscan Peace Center will be sharing information about the good work that has been accomplished within the past year, events that are coming up – including the Second Annual Just Living Festival, and plans for future work sponsored by the FPC. Listen in as host Marsha Thrall, Director of Programming, Jennifer Kryszak, Director of Strategic Planning, and Laura Anderson, Director of Digital Outreach and Advocacy for the Franciscan Peace Center share the good news of active nonviolence and peacemaking work, and how it takes shape within their local community and beyond. "Sweet Times" is by All Bets Off, and is provided by Adobe Stock.

On Today’s podcast, we will be joined by Sister Janet Ryan, OSF. Sister Janet has been a Franciscan sister of Clinton, Iowa since 2005, and is originally from Boston. She has been ministering at Precious Blood Ministry of Reconciliation since 2014 and assists adults in earning their high school diploma, offers peace circles in the community and circle trainings at PBMR. Sr. Janet has a Communications degree from UConn and a Master's in Pastoral Ministry from St. John's Seminary in Boston. She is passionate about living and promoting Nonviolence and Restorative Justice.Today’s conversation will focus on the ways in which Sr. Janet’s community at Precious Blood Ministries of Reconciliation will be celebrating both Campaign Non-Violence from September 21, 2023 to October 2, 2023, and also how Precious Blood Ministries will be celebrating the International Day of Peace on September 21, 2023. Welcome Sister Janet!              "Sweet Times" is by All Bets Off, and is provided by Adobe Stock.

Today’s special edition of The “Center” is a conversation with Sister LaVern Olberding, OSF. Sister LaVern has been a member of The Sisters of St. Francis, Clinton, Iowa since 1961. During her time as part of the Clinton Franciscan family, Sister LaVern has served as a grade school teacher, a high school teacher, in faith formation and campus ministry, and as the operations coordinator for the oldest solid surface company in Southern California. Sister LaVern’s current project is founding and serving as the president of the Franciscan Peace Connection in San Diego.On today’s episode, join host Marsha Thrall, and Sister LaVern as they talk about the events that The Franciscan Peace Connection has planned to celebrate the International Day of Peace with their neighbors in the San Diego area.   "Sweet Times" is by All Bets Off, and is provided by Adobe Stock.

Did you know that Iowa was once 80% covered in tall grass prairie land? But, currently, the amount of tall grass prairie land in Iowa is less than .1%. On today’s episode of The “Center”, we’ll be joined by Kurt Kreiter and Todd Seifert from Our Lady of the Prairie Retreat Center in Wheatland, Iowa, and also Sister Marie Cigrand from the Sisters of St. Francis in Dubuque, Iowa for a meaningful and informative conversation about the importance of prairie land in the state of Iowa. Join us as we talk about the importance of the prairie for our overall ecosystem, the beautiful habitat that the prairie provides for our brothers and sisters who call it home and appreciate some prairie wisdom from those who are stewards of some of the prairie lands that are left to be cared for here in Iowa. "Sweet Times" is by All Bets Off, and is provided by Adobe Stock.

On today’s podcast, host Marsha Thrall will be sharing with our listeners information about what human trafficking looks like in the state of Iowa, how local communities are working to squash the various problems that are systemic contributors to human trafficking, what work still needs our attention, and how we can work together as a community to bring positive change to the landscape of human trafficking in Iowa. Content warning: There are brief mentions of rape and sexual assault in this episode. Please be careful while listening. "Sweet Times" is by All Bets Off, and is provided by Adobe Stock.

On today’s episode of The “Center”, host Marsha Thrall is joined by Sisters Ida Green, and Jeanne d’Arc Untz of the Sisters of St. Francis, Clinton, Iowa to talk about the work that they have done to alleviate the problem of human trafficking within the community of Clinton.This conversation will focus on what motivates these sisters to do anti-trafficking work, the impact that their work has had on their communities, and their hopes for a community liberated from the problem of human trafficking.Content Warning: This episode contains brief mention of sexual assault. "Sweet Times" is by All Bets Off, and is provided by Adobe Stock.

On today’s episode of The “Center”, host Marsha Thrall is joined by Tamra Jetter, Director of the Vince Jetter Community Center in Clinton, Iowa. Marsha and Tamra will talk about the Vince Jetter Community Center’s origins, and how the Jetter Center is currently working on beautification and community garden education projects intended to revitalize the neighborhoods surrounding the Vince Jetter Community Center. "Sweet Times" is by All Bets Off, and is provided by Adobe Stock.

In today’s episode of The “Center”, host Marsha Thrall talks about both the restorative and nonviolent nature of both home gardening and community gardening. Within the conversation, she will be joined by Donna Santiago, who oversees programming and enrichment for the Pathways Living Center in Clinton, Iowa. Pathways Living Center provides housing and care for adults living with mental and emotional challenges, and Pathways is one of this year’s recipients of a no-cost garden plot at the Clinton Community Garden. "Sweet Times" is by All Bets Off, and is provided by Adobe Stock.

On today’s episode of The "Center" host Marsha Thrall is joined by Dr. Adrienne Krone. Dr. Krone is the Assistant Professor of Environmental Science & Sustainability and Religious Studies at Allegheny College in Meadville, PA. Dr. Krone’s area of academic specialty focuses on Agriculture and Food, Food Justice, Religion and Food, Religion and the Environment, Religion and Animals, Religious Studies, and Jewish Studies. Her research has focused on a historical and ethnographic study of the contemporary Jewish Community Farming movement in North America. Welcome Dr. Krone! "Sweet Times" is by All Bets Off, and is provided by Adobe Stock.

This week on The “Center”, host Marsha Thrall is joined by Carmelite Sister JonFe de Torres, as well as Sisters Theresa Judge and Joan Theiss of the Sisters of St. Francis, Clinton, Iowa. Today’s conversation focuses on the experiences and expertise that these three women have in growing gardens for both food, and as creative expression. The topic of gardening as an act of nonviolence is explored, including insight on how growing one’s own food is a radical act of self-care. "Sweet Times" is by All Bets Off, and is provided by Adobe Stock.